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Friday, September 14, 2007

I went to a drama meeting tonight. I'd been looking forward to this meeting for the last month for several reasons. First, it was a meeting for adults. Just adults. No kids. That meant I'd be getting out of the house by myself for a couple hours. Secondly, they were serving Sangria at this meeting. Also, it was just for adults and no children. Oh and did I mention this meeting was only for adults? Of course, I'd look forward to a root canal if it meant I could lie down and didn't have to listen to any kids fighting or asking me for anything for an hour.

Now I really enjoy these drama meetings because there are such fun people involved in the group. I spend most of the evening laughing and laughing and trying not to wet my pants and laughing. This evening, as happens at most of our meetings, the conversation steered toward other topics. Politics, specifically. This is the part of the evening where my eyes glaze over, not because I'm bored with the talk, but because I can't add anything meaningful to the discussion. I admit I've never been terribly interested in current events, but I used to have a clue what was going on in the world around me.

I'm not sure when and how it happened, but somewhere along the line, I became stupid. Yes, yes I know, I'm not really stupid, but when you're in a room full of people who can easily converse on any given topic and you can only chime in if the discussion turns to diaper changing, the best way to scrub pudding off the ceiling, or the latest Backyardigans adventure, you start to feel a little less than intelligent.

I sat there catching bits and pieces of the conversation....taxes......budget.....governor......nine months. My ears perked up! Nine months? I know something about that! Oh wait. They're not talking about pregnancy. They're still on budgets.....administration.....funding. Nope, not a single word about math homework, laundry, or petrified food found in strange areas of the house.

Now don't get me wrong. I know I could take the time to read the paper, watch the news, and study up on current events and politics. I choose not to. I know I'd be prepared to talk about television if I spent time watching the latest reality t.v. show, but let's face it, I get enough reality right here at home. So I sit there and pretend to be just absorbing everything they say with a thoughtful look on my face. Oh well. I guess no one can be totally involved in every conversation, right? We all have different areas of expertise and just because we can't converse on any subject under the sun, doesn't make us stupid. Although.... speaking of stupid... I've had many, many people ask me if I'm LDS. I had no idea why so many people were asking me if I was learning disabled. Apparently LDS does not stand for learning disabled. Who knew? And no, I'm not Mormon. I'm a United Methodist who took a while to figure out the whole birth control thing. :D And I'm glad I did take a while!

Oh yes, no chance to get out of the house by oneself would be complete without an explanation of what they found upon returning home.

Yes, those are my two oldest sons dressed like Teletubbies. Why? I haven't the slightest clue. My husband let them cut apart a couple pictures from a photo album. Pictures that I painstakingly put into this album! Cut apart. The thing that ticks me off is that I have a 200 gallon bucket of photos sitting here in my room. I keep thinking 'some day I'll get them into albums', but someday never comes. The pictures they cut apart, were actually in an album! One of the only albums I've put together. Now I have two glaringly empty spaces. :::sigh::: Anyway, they glued these photos onto some pictures of Teletubby costumes they found in a Halloween catalog. I think I'll start calling them Laa-Laa and Po.

Stacey from All Moments Remembered just emailed me these cool scrap book pages she put together using pictures from my blog. I will never, ever, ever have the time to scrapbook. Really, remember the 200 gallon bucket of pictures? Not only do I have a pile of paper-backed photos that are undoubtedly a fire hazard, but I haven't written a thing in most of my kids' baby books. It's so sad. My first son has a baby book where every "first" is recorded. My oldest daughter has many entries in her book. My third child has two sentences written in his. On and on it goes. My sixth baby doesn't even have a book. So sad.

I do find that when i do get the oppertunity to talk to adults I tend to bring up stuff the kids did or what happened at school that day. Even if im with no kids at all I still feel like I miss them and their craziness.

I wish I could scrapbook. first we have no money and second I bet my son will eat it.

I have just discovered your blog and thanks for such a fun and honest look at parenthood. I had to laugh at the Backyardigans part because my husband and I know all the episodes, songs and have even gone so far as to print out the lyric sheets because they were stuck in our brains all day and we might as well know the correct words while we're at it.

I can relate - baby books in dusty pile, pictures in a box under the bed. I have to blog too, just so I will have some record of my 5 kids' childhoods! thanks for keeping me laughing! our lives are so similar, but I would need to have one more kiddo to match yours and that is NOT happening! take care!!

My 14 yr. daughter just saw the picture of the dressed up stitch she now wants to write a story about super,princess,darth,stitch. She is also thinking it would be a great costume to use for halloween.

i love free time with adults! it is a rare treat , but oh so delightful! nice teletubbies! and huge bummer about your album you actually did. someday my kids will move out and each take their shoe box of pictures with them.

That is so funny that a bunch of people have asked if your LDS. ha ha I guess people just figure only us Mormons have a lot of kids these days!! ha ha haI love the night out & I agree there are days I would do damn near anything if it meant no kids!! I love them, I just need a "break". Thanks for all your posts!! - Kate

Yep, I too phase out when adults talk politics .. the only thing I watch to keep up with current event plus get a good laugh is Jon Stewart's Daily show ... which is kinda sad ... need to find me a drama club!

Re Clay: often little people, once they have had their T's & A's (that's tonsils and adenoids, not anything else) attended to, become calmer, eat better and can actually listen - can you believe it? they actually listen. I wonder whether it is worth getting them addressed before they become problematic. Pleased to hear your little man came through OK.

Dawn,it's so nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way among other adults! LOL, my poor husband comes home some days to an onslaught of words...me trying to use up my daily quota on him, when he's all talked out from work (he's a teacher)and ready to veg out in peace and quiet. (It's either that, or I'm cutting his food up into small bite-sized pieces!)

I asked a girlfriend at Bible Study what the date was this past Tuesday evening, then felt like such a dork when she told me. Like, DUH...how could I forget it was 9-11 when I'd seen it everywhere that day?! She consoled me with a story about how she had a customer come into the coffee shop where she works part-time, and when she asked his name to write it on the cup, he told her Jesus (the Spanish pronunciation of the name). She asked, "Can you spell that for me?"

I love what AllMomentsRemembered did with your photos. I hear digital scrapbooking is the way to go, but like you, I have a bazillion print-photos that need to have something done with them besides sit in the boxes they are in.

God Bless you for starting this blog! I hope you have some idea of how many moms (and dads) you touch with your wit, your tears and your honesty. I can only imagine the thousands of chuckles and thoughts of "that's me, she's writing about!" that take place on a daily basis. Thank you. I pray for all the success and happiness you could ever imagine with your book and the wonderful adventure you are taking with your family.

stlmom

p.s. The brain cells of ours that got sucked out during breastfeeding DO come back. It's just slower for some of us!

Your comment about being Methodist made me think of something my mom said once. She has five kids, and the Dr. once asked her if she was Catholic. She just smiled and said "no, just passionate Methodists!"

That photo album incident is almost unbelievable. Almost. I'm so very sorry.

Somewhere after my 4th child, my husband and I went to an adults-only neighborhood gathering, where I realized I was totally out of it, because no one wanted to talk about anything related to kids and I couldn't think of anything else to say. I could tell they were looking at me as if I were such a pathetic SAHM with too many kids and wasn't it amazing my husband let me have my shoes to go out of the house with that day? (I think I was pregnant at the time, too.) In desperation, I splurged on a subscription to The New Yorker. Now I can sound somewhat intelligent by saying, "Oh, I saw the funniest cartoon about that while I was reading my New Yorker this week." No one need know that the cartoons are about all I get around to reading, right?

Just wanted to mention that I grew up in a UMC family, the oldest of five children. Apparently, once when my parents were asked if they were Mormons (five children, don't drink, don't smoke, don't even drink coffee), my mom answered "No, just sexy Methodists." It's hard enough to imagine my mom saying that, harder still to know it's my dad who told me about her saying it!

I feel your pain about scrapbooking and I have half as many kids as you do!!! My oldest has the most beautiful baby book. My second has 3 boxes of pictures, and my third, who was just born in August, has some pics that we did manage to download onto the computer. Woo-hoo! Progress!

Check out this business, www.outoftheboxscrapbooking.com. Basically, you send her your pictures, tell her what you want, and she does it for you. If you are interested, give her a call and see what you can work out. She's a good friend of ours, and I know you will be happy with the result!

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To my friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my child to tell friends that they bring home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Don't sweat the scrapbooking thing. Your blog IS your scrapbook. A person could stick 200 gallons of photos in a pretty scrapbook and not preserve a single memory...you, my dear, are leaving a legacy :)

I think the baby books may matter more to you than the kids. I am the 4th of 7 children, 32 years old now and a mother of 2 kids myself. When we were digging through stuff in my parents' basement, we found some baby books. Like you said, the oldest has many documents entered lovingly. By the time we got to mine, it had my name in the front and all the cards from the baby shower tucked in the back. For my younger sister, we knew the book was hers because it was still in the bag from the drugstore where it was purchased, and we knew it had to be hers by the date on the reciept! LOLThe point is, we are still functional adults, and we got our memories in other ways - photos and stories and the memories of our siblings. I love your blog - it is my morning sunshine!

When one of my kids got lice and the whole family needed to be treated, I realized how "far gone" I was when I was looking forward to getting my hair professionally checked...90 min of sitting in a chair having my hair nit-combed while watching satellite television and NO ONE whining, screaming or fighting. Ahhhhhh, that's the life. And you are not alone in the baby book pattern!

Dawn, I am LDS. (Mormon) I think you are oging to find that many Lds women relate to you. Just because Mormons are known for Large Families. You also write about being Christian, So that is probably why you are being asked that so much. I know some people do not believe Mormon's are not Christians, but that is very far from the truth. We know our Savior lives and loves us. We also do believe Families can be together forever. And that ther is life after death so we can be a family for all eternity. We do not poo-poo other religions. If you meet a mormon who does that, they are NOT living what they are being taught. Heck, my best friend in High School was Jewish. I loved going to Jewish Holidays with my friend. (There is always delicious food during their Holiday parties.) She came to church with me some times. My elementry school friends were catholic, and I had the proveledge to attend services with her and her family sometimes. If you have questions or comments on Mormonism you can visit my blogwww.mom2my5.blogspot.comor you can visit www. lds.org

I would even like to hear what your beliefs are. I think it is great to share religious beliefs!It usually all comes down to the same thing. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

I read the paper every few days and still have nothing to say when politics or current events come into conversation. I do however know a lot about mommy things! I too wish I had the time to scrapbook, our photo's are in a bucket though.....they are all happily on the computer in some file that I PRAY never crashes. *Knock on Wood*

I am sure people I meet think I am just crazy and talk non-stop but it isn't often I get to actually "talk" to other people unless it's about Zack and Cody or HSM 2 or bugs, etc. I have to get all my talking in as fast as I can because I don't know when I will get the chance again. :) Also, don't feel bad...the boys sort of have an album but kailey has a beautiful album...just nothing in it. Hey the intention was there. She also complains because we have so much video of the boys and "mommy where am I?" Oops. :)

Dawn,I just discovered your blog through ebay. I have to say your sense of humor is a breath of fresh air. I'm a stay at home mom of 2 boys and totally relate to your stories. I look forward to reading your previous posts.

First, let me say thank you for not letting me be the only one who looks forward to ta trip to the dentist because it means 30 min to lay in a chair with no children bothering me.

Second, if you want to get into scrapbooking, there are many online sites that you can get freebies to get started. I found someone's scrapbooking blog one day and kept clicking links from there. I have to admit I've ahrdly paid for any of my downloads. I have a few kits I "had to have" and told hubby they were an anniversary gift. The best part about digital is it's on the computer, so the kids can't spill anything on it unless they spill on the keyboard, and you can use your supplies over and over again.

Hi Dawn, I started reading your blog after reading your e-bay ad. Real original i know, But to my point. LAst night putting my son to bed i thought of you. Having six kids im sure youve done what was my first last night. Kissing the knees of my sons superman toy because he threw him off the bed and injured him. It was compleley normal and reasonable at the time.Thanks for writing a great blog it keeps me laughing!

I've been reading your blog for quite some time now. I'm a new mother of a 3 month old, and wanting a big family, but sometimes reading your blog makes me rethink that plan. Tell me, is it really that bad?

Cutting up those pictures reminds me of the time when I was a youngin'. I'd gotten into a box in my parents' walk-in closet, and had found a bunch of pretty little "cards" with flowers all over them. I guess I must have taken a liking to the flowers, because I went and got a pair of scissors, and cut all those cards apart. Turns out, those "cards" were from the floral arrangements, sent to my mother's family when my grandfather (her father) passed away! And, as if that didn't get me into enough trouble... remember when I told you before that I was also part Greek? Well, I guess my grandfather hailed from a pretty wealthy family over in Greece, and when he was younger, he attended University with none other than Aristotle Onassis, and the two remained friends over the years. Those cards were from Ari himself! I didn't think I was going to be able to sit down for a week, after the spanking I got over that one!

Don't you slight yourself about not understanding the "politics" of things, dearie. You get them quite well. You've learned how to be extremely diplomatic when it comes to such things as breaking up fights, deciding which child is right, and which was in error. I'm sure you've also amassed amazing peacekeeping skills throughout your tenure as a mom of six. I have no doubt that you have very strong opinions in favor of weapons disarmament (as in "Clay! Don't you go running after your brother with those scissors in your hands!); healthcare (a.k.a., "It's all right baby.... Mama will kiss it and make it better for you"), and education reform (or, rather, "Your homework had better be done before you even think about removing your butt from that chair!"). You may not have been able to partake in their "brand" of politics, but in certain circles (such as mine), if you ran for President, you'd win by a landslide! :)

I am on your side. My three are grown - I'm even a grandma now. But I work with children teaching kindergarten, live with a wonderful man who is going through chemo, and frankly...the way politics is such a game, I have no use for keeping up with the ins and outs of it all. I am no slouch...I have bonafide degrees up the wazzoo...but I, too, sit back and just smile and nod my head when talk turns to politics or reality TV. BTW - it would KILL me to have my photos...any photos...cut up, but the kids DO look adorable.

Many years ago, I had this nightmare that I was at a cocktail party, where all they women were in little black dresses and the men in tuxes. I was talking to this very elegant,tall. thin and blonde woman, she asks me my opinion of Monet. I answer "I think it's and excellant costume jewelry but I really prefer Trifari" as I say that I look over her shoulder at an enourmous painting by Monet. I woke up crying. This was maybe 20 years ago, but I can still remember it. And I wasn't a stay at home mom, so I think everyone has those sorts of feelings.

"Yooooour back yard friends the Backyardiigaaaannnnns. Do do do do do do do. Do do do do do do do." Do you know how many times over I've hummed this in my head, sitting in bed feeding my 4 month old at 2 am?

Thank you for your conversations comment (how we can't all have input into all conversations, all the time). I don't have much interest in current affairs. Currant affairs yes, current affairs... no.

I know what you mean about the baby books - my oldest child (he's 21 now) has a complete book my youngest (baby #4) didn't have a book. Wait, let me think - nope my third child didn't have a book either. Daughter (baby #2) had a calendar with stickers you could slap on a date to make it easier. I couldn't even be bothered slapping on a sticker. There are just way too many things to enjoy when they are happening to be bothered running around to record it.

Ever wondered what you'd think of yourself if you met yourself? I think I just met myself in perusing your blog and ebay story :) Totally like looking in a window of my own life (only I have twins, and that adds a WHOLE new dimension/dementia). How is it that we can love people so much who make us chew our fingernails down to the pulp? Hang in there girlfriend, and try not to hurt any of the children.

Love your blog! And I can totally relate to feeling stupid...I have 2 year old triplets and I'm sure they have stolen all of my brain cells. They are much smarter than I am and I'm sure they would have no problem carrying on a conversation about current events.

Thanks for sharing your humor with all of us, you put into words what all of us mothers are really thinking!

I think my favorite Backyardigans episode was Race around the world...either that or Mission to Mars. It is pretty sad when you go to sleep singing the songs from the show, but not nearly as annoying as singing Thomas the Tank Engine. Those are by far the worst. On a side note for everybody else...LDS stands for Latter-day Saint, an abbreviated term for the official name of the Mormon Church which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thanks for keeping me laughing, Dawn.

Like so many others, I came to "know" you thanks to a forwarded email from a friend with your eBay post on it. I have since become a loyal reader! I, too, have a blog and if you're at all interested, it's www.rogerandjennifer.blogspot.com.

I am a SAHM with 2 kids, including a newborn. On more than one occassion, I find myself laughing out loud not only because you're histerical, but because I can relate! You've inspired me to become a little more creative with my posts on my own blog.

I have been reading your blog ever since your eBay posting. Thanks for the daily laughs.

I have never read all your comments until today but I wanted to see if someone would answer the LDS riddle. Yep.

I wanted to tell Kathy Vest that her comment was amazing and beautiful. Thanks.

Char-- make a disc of your pictures and give it to someone because your computer will most likely crash someday. None of us like to think so, but eventually....

Dawn, someone said they were reconsidering having a large family because of your stories.

Let me say that I had 7 children when it was only politically correct to have 2. I was often treated poorly, like I was not being responsible. My comeback was this. "I am producing producers. If only welfare moms have large families then in one or two generations we won't have enough producers to provide for the others."

Today my children are all responsible adults paying taxes and providing for themselves and others.

Don't miss the ride. It has its ups and downs but it is usually well worth it.

Funny isn't it that people have a hard time believing that a couple would choose a large family without religious pressure. Like there is no other reason...

My husband is from a family of three: #1 with several captioned photo albums, #2 (my husband) a few pages and all school pictures stuck in the book, #3 a small tattered third-grade picture uncovered in the silverware drawer once.

Okay, maybe I'm stupid. What is LDS? I too have six kids and we homeschool. On a recent trip to the bookstore, as we were all walking in, a man sees me with all of my girls (because I have six girls) and says, "What are you Mormon?" I was offended! I didn't say anything though. I smiled and walked on. Speaking of stupid...I think he was.

As a fellow mom to six - no there is no time to scrapbook! My solution? An hour and mypublisher.com. I was able to make a book of our family reunion in just a little over an hour. Each family unit got one (great Christmas presents!) and IT'S DONE!!!!! Next I'll work on kids books, because #1 has a baby book, #2 has pictures but no words, #3, #4, #5, & #6...were they ever babies????

That you for articulating my world and reminding me to laugh at it and enjoy!

Wow, to a previous commenter that was offended by being asked if she was mormon. I don't know why that should be offensive. It implies- you love family, you look clean, you don't smoke, you don't drink. So, take it as a compliment. I guess no one gives us credit for anything these days. And to Dawn, I happen to know that you have a large audience of LDS moms following your blog. Probably the biggest group of stay at home moms with big families out there is LDS. Like it or not, we relate to you.

To Happy Mom, I don't think the person who said she was offended at being asked if she was Mormon, was offended at the Mormon comment specifically. I took it to mean that she was offended that a stranger had made an assumption and asked (in her opinion) a rude question simply because she had several kids. I'm certainly not offended at all if someone asks me if I'm LDS or Catholic! I was simply making fun of my ignorance at not knowing what LDS stood for. :)

I'm recently beginning my own business creating scrapbook albums for other people, so let me just say when you get rich and famous from writing your book, call me and we can talk about hiring me to do YOUR scrapbooks! I'm sure the day you become rich and famous isn't far away at all, and I mean that. You're hysterical. I personally can't wait to see your book myself! :)

I love your blog! I laughed so hard about your kids' baby books! My oldest brother's book was blue satin with hand-painted flowers. His every moment was lovingly recorded by my mom. The next born was another brother, his book was also beautiful blue satin and pretty much filled out.....Finally, they have a baby girl..me......plain pink book. In my mom's writing: "Tippy (my Aunt's dog) bit Jo-Ann's finger." and......."Hates baby food, loves macaroni and meatballs." That was all she wrote!! When I was old enough, I began to fill it out for myself!!

Now, I have two daughters and am busy scrapbooking. Perhaps, when they get older, they won't have to complain to strangers on a blog!!

P.S. I love what Stacey did with your photos!! What else does she do? Has anyone else used All Moments Remembered?

I remember those days all too well. I could speak volumes on breast feeding, ear surgeries, dislocated hips, Goofus and Gallant, dinosaurs, and later the ins and outs of social circles of middle and high school. I could make the beds, cook breakfast and get the children out the door without batting an eye.

I avoided any talk of politics and current events. To us, current events meant Daddy was in one place or another defending America. That was all I needed to know.Those who were well versed in current deployments and rotations and had opinions of such matters didn't interest me. At the end of the day, I knew what my children had for school lunch. I knew who they sat with while eating said lunch. And I knew that I was tucking them in at night, saying their prayers, being both Mom AND Dad that tomorrow would be good because we had each other.Now the children are grown, I have time to keep up on current events in the world. I still keep the TV off most days.

Dawn, you are doing the most important job in the entire world. You are raising happy, healthy children. The day may come when you choose to pay attention to the evening news. Then again, it might not. ;)

Keep on keeping me in stitches! I relive my childhood as the 7th of 9 children with each installment. Oh how I feel sorry for my mom some days!

I am LDS also and even though I'm only getting ready to have my third child most of my friends think I'm crazy and giving into religious pressure when in reality that has nothing to do with it. My kids are a huge part of my life. . . although sadly they will likely be putting together their own baby books some day because I'm never going to get around to it.

I think your experience of the dwindling thoroughness and breadth of the baby books is universal. I am the eldest of three children. My baby book is massive. It chronicles practically every day of my mother's pregnancy, every day of my life for my first year, and ever significant event in the two years after. It's monsterously thick, wihth pictures and cards and scraps and things. My brother's is like a miniature version of mine. It has a lot of the same elements, only far less of them. By the time my sister came around, I guess mom was tired of baby books. Hers has some of the essentials, but there are huge gaps in the chronology, and then eventually it just drops off somewhere very early on in life. It only fills a small portion of a very large book.

I can only assume that if Mom had continued to have children, she'd quickly get to a point where the baby books ended.

Anyway, I hope you are constantly making backups of this blog. This thing should count as a sort of extended baby book for all six of your children.